Our Team

Claire joined as CEO of Howden Foundation in May 2025, bringing with her 15 years’ experience in international corporate and climate philanthropy.

Prior to joining Howden Foundation, Claire was Chief Investment Officer at the BHP Foundation, where she oversaw development and execution of the Foundation’s strategy, and led an international team to maximise the outcomes and impact of the Foundation’s grant-making, overseeing a portfolio of over $50 million per year.

Claire began her philanthropic career at one of the world’s largest global climate funders, Children’s Investment Fund Foundation, where she led programme, portfolio and grant-making work before moving into the role of the Chief of Staff to the CEO.

Claire began her career at Ernst and Young where she worked with clients in both the public and private sector in Assurance and Advisory. She has a Master of Arts in Natural Sciences from the University of Cambridge and is a Chartered Accountant with the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Scotland. Claire is also a Trustee and Chair of the Audit Committee for the UK-based charity, Integrity Action.

Clare joined Howden Foundation in 2021, and spent three years overseeing all of the Foundation’s grantmaking and activities, including launching the Foundation’s ambitious strategy to build community-based resilience towards the impacts of climate change. Clare was promoted to COO in May 2025, in recognition of the instrumental role that she has played in shaping the Foundation you see today.

Clare believes deeply in the unique role that philanthropic capital can play in fostering sustainable change, and has ten years’ experience working at the intersection of UK corporate philanthropy and international grant-making, including her tenure at international grant-making charity, the Maitri Trust. Clare possesses a deep understanding of the non-profit sector, and is highly skilled at aligning philanthropic efforts with business objectives and values, as well as being highly proficient in all aspects of international grant-making.

Hannah joined the Howden Foundation as Partnerships Manager in March 2024. This is her first role in corporate philanthropy, having previously led the Tudor Trust’s international grant-making programme on locally-led agroecology in sub-Saharan Africa, progressing on to co-lead the Grants Team with an annual portfolio of £20M. She has also held governance positions, including at the Joseph Rowntree Charitable Trust, where she was Vice-Chair between 2021 and 2023.

Hannah is passionate about the role that locally-led, catalytic and empowering grant-making can play. Prior to moving into philanthropy 15 years ago, she led frontline charity projects in international NGOs such as Peace Direct, Quaker Peace and Social Witness. Hannah holds an MSc in International Relations from LSE.

Meghann joined the Howden Foundation in January 2025, bringing with her over a decade of experience working at the intersection of philanthropy, non-profit management, and grassroots social justice movements. Meghann has held trustee, advisory and grant-making roles within private family offices, charitable foundations and non-profit organisations – including the Rothschild Foundation and Farming the Future.

Driven by a deep passion for climate justice and social equity, Meghann has a particular interest in philanthropy’s ability to foster change through strategic partnerships and collaborative working. She has facilitated funder collaborations and led multiple partnerships between the public, private and non-profit sectors.

Meghann is a tri-citizen of Aotearoa New Zealand, Australia and the UK.